Southern California -- this just in

Michael Madsen's fight with son was over smoking pot, lawyer says

March 10, 2012 | 8:39
am

An attorney for actor Michael Madsen said a dispute with Madsen's teenage son that led to the actor's arrest Friday stemmed from his son smoking marijuana.

Perry Wander, Madsen's attorney, told TMZ that the dispute occurred when Madsen discovered his son was smoking pot. "It's a family matter and Michael asks that his family's privacy be respected," he told the website.

Madsen, 54, appeared under the influence of alcohol when L.A. County Sheriff's deputies responded to a call at 2:15 p.m. Friday, Deputy Peter Gomez said.

Detectives from the Special Victims Unit were also dispatched to Madsen's home to investigate suspicion of physical abuse, Gomez said.

The actor was being held at the Lost Hills station in lieu of $100,000 bail, the department spokesman said.